blackrose

I am basically looking for advice , I want to breastfeed my baby , OH supports this totally , but my family .....
my mum says it will make her feel left out , how? , what has it got to do with her ?
My nan and sisters said they will feel uncomfortable ?
My sisters also feel it will be hard for me to have a life outside off the house . I don't see how . But I don't know how to deal with them , I need support not criticism , Have you got any advice , and excuse the intrusion if was the wrong place to post

RJ01

If you want to breastfeed then go for it and don't listen to anyone around you.
Your OH is totally behind you so he will be a great support, if it makes anybody else feel uncomfortable then that is there problem.
It is a real shame they won't support you as it is a fantastic and natural thing to do and really good for you and baby.

Good luck
xx

blackrose

I just want too tell them all too f off , my midwife hasn't asked me about it yet , is it too early too ask her questions ? I have a ton of stupid ones

avabear73

Never too early - that's what she's there for. If you have questions, feel free to ask here if you think we can help

blackrose

oh fantastic nobody in my family has ever breastfed so i feel a bit lost ,
I used to have nipple piercings will it be a problem ?
What do I actually need equipment wise ?
Is it OK to express milk to help daddy feel included too ?

stephwiggy

i too had a nipple peircing and fed my son sucessfully - altho the flow was abit faster on that side xx

Lu28

Ask your mw as many questions as you like hon, she'll probably be pleased!

As for your family, this is your baby not theirs! They can bond through cuddles and bathing etc. You'll definitely be fine to go out of the house, once you bf in public for the first time it gets alot easier.

Equipment - the one essential for me is Lansinoh cream for sore nipples, wouldn't be without it. Nursing bras. Maybe some vest tops to wear under your clothes - that way you can pull one top up and the other down and not expose the belly

If you're going to express too, a pump. A manual is fine if it's an occasional thing, an electric if it's going to be more often. I have a medela swing electric which is great. Again if you/re expressing you'll need bottles and sterilising bits eventually.

Probably best not to give LO a bottle til about 6 wo to avoid him / her getting confused between breast and bottle. It causes problems for some although it didn't for us.

Good luck!

RJ01

I was the same nobody in my family had breastfed but I knew I really wanted too it was the best decision I ever made.
I started to express at around 3 weeks and DH gives her expressed bottle for bed he loves it as he get to feed and cuddle her.
I bought a breast pump some avent bottles that are good for colic and a avent microwave steraliser a bottle brush for cleaning them with a smaller brush to clean the teats.
I also got some steralised bags to freeze milk as it is handy to have some for later if you want to have a night out or even a day out.
Ask about anything you want on here no need to feel embarassed I found these forums really useful and have learnt a lot from them everyone is here to help and support you.

becstar

You can express so your oh can do it, too - most midwives tell you to wait a few weeks though until your supply has settled.

At first it can be very tough at first being the only one responsible for feeds. The early days can be very hard as your LO can want to feed almost constantly and many people think 'oh I don't have enough, they need formula' but this is rarely the case. Newborn tummies are the size of a marble or an olive - they need a tiny amount regularly at first but it does get better. In the first few days I cried a lot! I felt I couldn't sleep as she wanted me constantly and cried when I put her down. Next time I will feed the baby laying down so we can both doze - something I recommend you try as it can be a lifesaver! There's lots of advice on google about doing it safely.

Equipment wise, all you need is boobs and some good nursing bras - you can get fitted for them after 37 weeks, but I'd only buy one or two then and a few more a few weeks after birth when your supply has settled. Lansinoh cream (comes in a purple tube from Boots) is a godsend for sore nipples in the early days (it costs about £10 a tube but is well worth it and lasts ages) and you don't have to wash it off before baby feeds, just wipe off any excess. You'll probably want some breast pads too - some women never leak but I did, and they also help protect your sore nipples from rubbing against your bra.

A v-pillow can be useful to position baby - you don't have to buy a breastfeeding cushion, a bog standard v-pillow from the pillow (not baby) part of the Argos catalogue works just as well for me (some people love their bf pillows though!)

I had a hand pump and steriliser and a few bottles ready so I could express, but they're not vital in the early days.

I love breastfeeding and I am so glad I stuck it out. I hope I didn't put you off with what I said about the early days but I felt so shocked by how hard I found it - if I had been told how hard it was maybe it would have been easier IYSWIM as I would have been expecting it?

Don't let your mum push you out of your choice because she wants to be able to give YOUR baby a bottle! She had her turn with you!

Absolutely ask your midwife - lots of hospitals offer breastfeeding workshops before your baby is born to help you to learn all about it.

Good luck with it all and I hope to see you on these boards sharing your wisdom when you become an expert!

RJ01

Ooh yes lansinoh cream is very good.